Francis Cho My Pilgrimage

Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries, the soft comforts of home?

Shall I turn my back on my native land, and turn my face towards the sea?
Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy, without silver, without a horse, without fame, without honour? Shall I throw myself wholly upon You, without sword and shield, without food and drink, without a bed to lie on?

Shall I say farewell to my beautiful land, placing myself under Your yoke?

Shall I pour out my heart to You, confessing my manifold sins and begging forgiveness, tears streaming down my cheeks?

Shall I leave the prints of my knees on the sandy beach, a record of my final prayer in my native land?

Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict?

Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean?

O King of the Glorious Heaven, shall I go of my own choice upon the sea?

O Christ, will You help me on the wild waves?

- A Prayer of St Brendan

This is a prayer made by St Brendan. The Celtic Christian spirituality teaches us that our life is an on-going journey until we reach the seashore of the Heavenly Harbour. Yes, I absolutely agree with it. As a Far East Asian Christian, I feel we share much common ground with this spirituality. The Celtic Spirituality finds the trail of the Creator in the natural setting just like we do in our own context. I’m also a lover of Anglo-Irish culture. I love Irish music and I enjoy playing the Irish whistles (Low & High). And I love British foods, scenery and cultural things. I also value my Far East Asian identity. I believe our rich philosophical, cultural and religious soil from my Korean- Chinese ancestry helps me to reach to the heart of Christ in a unique way.

From 2nd to 16thi in November, I took a pilgrimage to Britain where the ancient’s saints lived and confessed the name of the Lord. I received a lot of blessings by this pilgrimage. I appreciate Bishop Robert Ladds(Bishop of Whitby) and Mrs Robby, Fathers Luke Lee, Michael Davenport, Roderick Leece, Graeme Rowlands, Martin Fletcher, Christopher Pearson, Adam Gaunt, Mr Roy(Church Army Officer) and Mrs Margaret Adams, and all

the sincere Christian who received me with genuine hospitality. I thank all of you who kept for my safe journey in Britain. And also please forgive me not to contact with some of you living in Britain. Because my two-week schedule was very tight so that I couldn't make my own. I thank for your understanding.

And I appreciate a local Roman Catholic priest who welcomed and served me, a stranger, with a cup of tea in his own office when I got lost in the downtown area of London. “Father, please come in! Please feel at home. Sit on the couch and I’ll bring you a cup of tea.” And he kindly told me how to get to my next destination, St Benet Fink Church. My pilgrimage would not have been possible without their help. It was a busy moment after he finished a funeral. There were a lot of Indian Christians in the church hall. A person told him that he could give a lift for my destination. But I said to a priest that I just would like to take a walk. Because I believe whatever happens before me during my pilgrimage, it comes from God! The priest understood and said to his congregation, “Just let him go. He’ll be Okay.” And the priest gave a special blessing for me.

The Celtic saints just went on their journey wherever the Holy Spirit led them. This is the reason why St Brendan said farewell to his familiar homeland and began his new missionary journey. Our Christian journey is basically a pilgrimage that is, first of all, taken place in our heart.

I remember a saying from my guardian angel in my dream. My guardian angel told me that when a new tide comes to me, I must be ready to follow the new rhythm. And my guardian angel added that “But if you just attach your own safe place and do not go further, your spiritual growth may be stopped.” In this respect, I admire all the missionaries who departed their homeland and started working for the people in the unknown countries. The reward might be a remarkable growth of their spirituality and the understanding of various human nature and cultural diversity in the Sacred Heart of Christ.

Five years ago, the former bishop my diocese told me to come to his office. He abruptly said, “Father Francis, I’m going to send you to set up a new mission in the town of Geumsan. But my diocese cannot provide you with any fund and housing for you. Can you go? Otherwise I’ll arrange you with other parish church.” I replied, “Bishop, just do whatever you wish. I’m ready to follow.”

Over the last five years, our Lord has been truly with us with the strong power of God. Just like Mary, the mother of our Lord, replied with “Yes!” to her God about the news of the Annunciation, I always believed that the servant of God must be ready to take a new journey. And my senior priest told me that “The true spirituality lies in acceptance! Whatever may come before us and wherever He leads me, we must accept. Just like our Lord Jesus did.”

In Jesus Christ, I know that my own “Lady Poverty”, my shabby house and the stressful situation would become a tremendous tool to transform my soul when I say “Yes” to my Lord. After spending my pilgrimage in Britain, amazingly all the fear about my future was gone! And I noticed that East and West are already united within me. Eventually my journey was the journey of the heart, not just a geographical one.

The presence of God is a great gift more than any earthly things. Although the servants of God face with lots of trials but they don’t complain. The suffering may not depart from the spiritual people as long as they live on the earth. What is the reason? Because they take up other persons’ cross, not their own. It’s like a candle. The candle emits its light into every direction. And it suffers but doesn’t complain. It just takes it for granted. The spiritual people just give and give repeatedly but not complain. They know that His presence is enough. And

whatever happens before them, it’s the gracious will of God to transform our hearts which is the very answer of our prayer.

When Bishop Robert Ladds took me to the hilly route covered with a plenty of Heather flowers where Saints Aidan and Cuthbert were on the way for a new mission field, I felt their presence. They were probably filled with the joy and presence of the Creator protected by the holy angels in the harsh winter season. Before they reached to their next destination of mission, their loving God, who is the Alpha and Omega, was already deeply rooted in the heart of Saints.

Francis Cho + St Patrick Centre